What does Sheetz signal for the future?

Published: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 04:42 PM.

For the past couple of years, Alamance County has pinned its economic development promotion on this description: “The Carolina Corridor.”

As a brand it’s tangible and easy to understand. Our community is seemingly well positioned at the nexus of two interstate highways, a rail line and a once formidable east-west U.S. highway that spans the state. In days of yore, the Haw River was also a primary access point, which drove the mills that once provided financial sustenance for working folks here.

So “The Carolina Corridor” became our main selling point when the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce and economic development interests marketed Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon and other points in the county.

In some ways, it’s obviously succeeded. Fact is, those who bother to Google (nearly everything, it seems, is a verb these days) “Carolina Corridor” will find the first thing that crops up is a website dedicated to displaying stories about NASCAR. But the second option is right here in Alamance County, via the chamber.

So, Alamance County can rightly lay claim to being “The Carolina Corridor.”

Thus far, though, the results have been small but incremental. Still, in a limping economy, it’s hard to expect too much. Mebane has been the biggest winner in the interstate development sweepstakes in recent years.

But Burlington and “The Carolina Corridor” got a huge boost last week when Sheetz broke ground on what is planned as a massive distribution center and kitchen operation for the dozens of stores the Pennsylvania-based and family owned company is now operating in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The $32.8 million project was announced last year, but like many things in the economic development world, doesn’t seem real until earth is moved and actual construction begins.

For the past couple of years, Alamance County has pinned its economic development promotion on this description: “The Carolina Corridor.”

As a brand it’s tangible and easy to understand. Our community is seemingly well positioned at the nexus of two interstate highways, a rail line and a once formidable east-west U.S. highway that spans the state. In days of yore, the Haw River was also a primary access point, which drove the mills that once provided financial sustenance for working folks here.

So “The Carolina Corridor” became our main selling point when the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce and economic development interests marketed Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Elon and other points in the county.

In some ways, it’s obviously succeeded. Fact is, those who bother to Google (nearly everything, it seems, is a verb these days) “Carolina Corridor” will find the first thing that crops up is a website dedicated to displaying stories about NASCAR. But the second option is right here in Alamance County, via the chamber.

So, Alamance County can rightly lay claim to being “The Carolina Corridor.”

Thus far, though, the results have been small but incremental. Still, in a limping economy, it’s hard to expect too much. Mebane has been the biggest winner in the interstate development sweepstakes in recent years.

But Burlington and “The Carolina Corridor” got a huge boost last week when Sheetz broke ground on what is planned as a massive distribution center and kitchen operation for the dozens of stores the Pennsylvania-based and family owned company is now operating in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The $32.8 million project was announced last year, but like many things in the economic development world, doesn’t seem real until earth is moved and actual construction begins.

So the road to an anticipated 250 jobs or more, has visibly begun on the 44-acre site off Whites Kennel Road.

That’s outstanding news in a county where unemployment is not only above the national average, but the state average as well. At more than 9 percent in May, the time when Sheetz actually starts the hiring process in the summer of 2014 can’t come soon enough.

But the better news may be what else Sheetz might bring. That’s how economic development works. When one company selects an area, others take notice. Sheetz isn’t the only company hungry for interstate access in order to serve a growing base of outlets and trim overall transportation costs. Sheetz looked at 21 sites in North Carolina and Virginia before settling on Burlington. The site here will serve 140 Sheetz locations — to start.

While location played a major role in the choice, it would be hard to ignore that incentives had a part as well. It’s still a sad statement that economic development is driven by government handouts. While we applaud the city providing infrastructure such as water and sewer line extensions, we remain opposed to cash incentives. Part of Burlington’s potential tally of $1 million includes money. The county is kicking in $1,120,000.

Overall, the arrival of Sheetz signals a win for the community, and perhaps a harbinger of things to come. Hawfields, anyone?